Smriti Recommends Action Following 135000 Signatures To Ban Pehredaar Piya Ki; Makers Still Defend The Show  

Even after more than 1,35,000 people signing an online petition demanding a ban on 'Pehredaar Piya Ki', which revolves around the marriage of a wealthy 9-year-old boy to an 18-year-old woman and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani's serious objections, the makers of the controversial serial are still defending the show and decided to fight in all forums against the pressures.

After the show elicited mostly negative responses from the audience, Smriti Irani has stepped in and forwarded the petition to the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) after the petition garnered over 1.35 lakh signatures, according to a DNA report. Fans and Twitterati have been slamming the show for its ‘regressive’ content and accused it of promoting child marriage.

Smriti has taken a strong objection to the show. She has written to the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) and has asked them to take immediate action against the show, on priority basis, reports India Today.

The ‘objectionable’ content that has everyone outraged are in these few scenes: Ratan applying Diya’s maang with sindoor, gently caressing her leg (?) and stalking her while he clicks pictures. There is also an awkward (bordering on the edge of pedophilia and almost evil) joke that is played by Diya’s in-laws after they set up her bedroom at the palace like a honeymoon suite in order for the newly married couple to celebrate their suhaag raat.

The much-debated TV show, aired on Sony TV, shows a 9-year old married an 18-year old girl. The show has been criticised for showing the boy ‘stalking’ the woman and an ill-advised ‘suhagraat sequence’. The show, which went on air in July this year, has been criticised for its bizarre plot and for promoting child marriage.

The petition on change.org was started by an angry viewer, Mansi Jain, who has urged Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani to ban the show.

Amidst all this controversy, the makers of the show, Sumeet and Shashi Mittal have come out, held a press conference and spoke in defense of the show.

It all started after Bollywood actor Karan Wahi tweeted about the show being too regressive. The makers said, "Karan Wahi was in New York at that time. The way he reacted was not right. He didn’t even see the show and simply made a comment. Karan and we have never worked on a project before, so there is no question of any enmity being there. I will ask Karan to give a statement on why did he make that statement. Will ask someone from my office to get in touch with him, Sumeet said.

Viewers also had a strong objection towards the honeymoon episode of the show but the makers said there was nothing romantic and cheap about it. The actress is supposedly the child's Pehredaar and there is nothing controversial about it, they defended.

Sumeet further said, "The basis of the controversy is rumours. I was shocked to know about the honeymoon sequence which is not there. The facts are given in the episodes that have been telecast so it is better that people watch and comment.

The makers have also decided to go to BCCC and clear out misconceptions.

"We will clear our take before BCCC. I don’t understand what point people picked up for controversy. People who have misjudged it have not seen it. They are reacting to one promo and hearsay. Will ask BCCC to watch all episodes and will abide. Let them see the content. We will decide as things come. Channel is confident about content and they know nothing is objectionable about it.

The producers have decided not to change the plot line.

The 'objectionable' content that has everyone outraged are in these few scenes: Ratan applying Diya's maang with sindoor, gently caressing her leg (?) and stalking her while he clicks pictures. There is also an awkward (bordering on the edge of pedophilia and almost evil) joke that is played by Diya's in-laws after they set up her bedroom at the palace like a honeymoon suite in order for the newly married couple to celebrate their suhaag raat.

The BCCC is reportedly still to receive an official complaint from the I&B minister's office, however objections over the show's content have allegedly been pouring into the BCCC office from all parts of India, and the matter is being said to be officially taken up on 16 August.

“A 10-year-old impressionable little kid (”piyaa”) caressing and stalking a lady who’s more than double his age and filling sindoor in her “maang” is being telecasted at prime time, family time. Imagine the kind of influence it will steadily and perpetually infuse in the viewers’ mindset. We want a ban on the serial. We do not want our kids to be influenced by such TV serials,” the petition stated.

The show stars Tejaswi Prakash (Diya) and Afaan Khan (Ratan) as its lead pair. In its defence, Sony TV told Indian Express that serial does not promote child marriage.

“It is such a futile attempt by people. The show is nowhere promoting child marriage nor is it showing anything objectionable. The suhaagraat sequence that people have been bashing had the lead Diya (Tejaswi Prakash) actually standing up against the ritual. She also mentioned that their marriage is for a cause and not to enjoy the marital pleasures. When we are giving out such strong messages, why do people need to file petitions? It’s an unnecessary criticism and completely unjustified.”

Lead actress Tejaswi said about the petition, “I’m not worried about the outcome of such petitions. And what influence? I’d really want to meet these kids who want to marry an 18-year-old girl.” She adds with a touch of sarcasm, “I’ll ensure personally that it doesn’t happen, don’t worry about it.”